Want to paint a brown mahoghnay door white?

Question

What do I need to do to prepare it before I paint it?

I want to paint it as I got a conservatory -the inside of the windows are white and i've got pine furniture so it looks out of place. I only want to paint one side.

Answer 1

In order to paint it and have no bleed, you will need to remove any semblence of polyurethane. You can use a stripper, but honestly the best I've ever used is sanding. Messy and time consuming, but will get it all and leave a smooth even finish. Will also take care of some of the stain. Once all urethane (I know I'm probably spelling that wrong) is gone you will need to coat w/ Kilz. The only primer worth using is original oil based kilz. Stinks, but is THE BEST. With the door being dark, probably want to do 2 coats. Let first coat dry one hour, then apply second coat. Do not try to top coat w/ paint for at least another 24 hours, 48 hours will be best. Then top coat with whatever paint you want to use.

Answer 2

If it is solid mahogany then it is worth money, I would sell it and buy new a white door. However, if only mahogany faced plywood the painting it is easy.
Remove the door handle and any other fittings. Wash it in Flash or detergent and water to remove any grease. When dry sand it down all over. Now paint it with a first coat of white undercoat paint, when dry rub it down again then apply a second coat over any areas where the brown colour is grinning through. Apply the finish coat and then for the very best finish rub it down lightly and then apply a second finish coat.
Remember if it is a flat door with-out cut outs you can use a small roller with a gloss roller sponge rather than a brush - much quicker. Also, keep your brush or roller wet or in solvent in between coats of paint.

Answer 3

All you do is give the door a rough rub down to dull the varnish, then undercoat, using oilbase U/C you will prbably have to do this about 3 times, but thin down the U?C slightly with white spirt, as you will labour if straight from the tin.
Then finish with 2 top coats of either satinwood or eggshell, again oilbase, and again slightly thin down.

If its a flush door, it might pay you to use a little sponge roller, which you can buy from any DIY store.

Use oilbase, as its going on a stain, there will be less chance of it chipping.

Answer 4

You might need to sand it down if the door is varnished? Also, you will probably need undercoat to cover up the darker colour before painting white - you might need a few coats of undercover and topcoat. Could be a long process but if you do it properly I'm sure it will look good.

Answer 5

You really need to make sure you want to do this first!

Then, you need to strip off the finish by using a stain remover/stripper (find at your local hardware store).

Next, you will need to sand the entire door so the surface is clean and smooth.

Use a damp rag to wipe away the saw dust and any left over debris.

You should be all clear to paint!

Mahoghnay is such a pretty wood though so I would check and double check that you really want to do it!

Answer 6

Is her husband brown, and is she white? Are there racist issues here? Did you use gloss or matt finish? Makes all the difference. Vandalism, well, at least you didn't steal the door. I mean, you gave them some paint!!!

Answer 7

Don't do it! If it really is mahogany it would be a shame to cover it in white gloss,why don't you make the most of the natural wood.Just sand it to a smooth finish and then try one of those wood treatments to give it a nice sheen.

Answer 8

depends what is already on there ..

If it's the plain wood, then leave it that way! Looks much better.

if it's got something else on already, or if you desperately want to paint it, use a good quality undercoat. the type depends upon which top coat you intend to use.

Ask at the DIY store.

Answer 9

clean it then sand it down the paint and gloss

Answer 10

take it to a furniture stripper and he can make it lighter but DON'T PAINT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DOOR!!!!